Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-08-02
Gales aud Skstfhes.
A POWERFUL CHRISTENING.

Michigan lies amid the wild and pictur-
esque scenery of the North Woods, ="
and bears the sweet, suggestive name OF
Baptiste.
Connected with the little history Of this
little gem of the wilderness is SAD,
romantic story which gave to the placid
waters their sorrowful christening. and.
as told to me, it is full of pathetic IN
terets.
The story itself is sad enough to bring
tears to the eyes of the listener anywhere,
but when heard by the solitary grave IN
der the shafted pines, it borrows an addi-
tional solemnity from the surroundings,
and is sadder than the moan OF the toe
at the foot OF the bluff
Late in the afternoon OF pleasant
autumn day | stood on the rugged shore.
and. gazing down into the depths OF the
blue, ripping water, listened to the re-
cital of the pitiful tale.
The dense pine forest came up to the
waters edge along the gloomy eastern
shore, forming a weird, shadowy back.
ground, while at my left hand the ruins OF
a gigantic lumber mill, such as is only
seen in the numbering regions. andSa long.
| l,w boathouse stood as mute sponsors OF
the story.
The bright, open stretch of white sandy
beach to the right, however, seemed Try
ing to persuade me into disbelleVlng the
tale, which | might have done, had not
the lowly grave at my feet brought me
hack to the legend of the lakelet, which
runs as follows:
In the year 18-, the evergreen phalanx
came up in unbroken destiny around this
beautiful body of water, rendering 1t not
unlike lucid sapphire in emerald setting.
But the steady march of industry
brought the sturdy lumbermen to its
shores, by-and-by. and the solitary depths
of dark pine woods resounded to the
echoes of industrial life.
The great ruined mill at my left was the
first one OF its kind erected on the shores
of Baptiste, and the boathouse once served
for the quarters of the workmen.
Among the lumbermen was young and
handsome Frenchman, who never joined
in the ribald song or coarse jest of his
fellows. Always quiet and unobtrusive,
vet pleasant withal, he won friends among
the better grades of workmen, and the
name of king Arthur" from the ruder
element which stood in derisive antagonism
of one whom it could not understand.
Although the grand old title was given
him by way of contempt, it suited his gal
liant bearing and kingly grace extremely
we'll.
He said but little about himself, and
never was communicative concerning his
friends, and always impressed his asso.
ciates as being stranger in strange land
10 most of the lumbermen he was only
known as a knightly hindrance, and not
one of them.
After long, tedious winters work I'M
def the rule of the frost-king. spring found
the logways full of the scented pine logs
'.break up" in order to be RATED down to
the mill below, around which structure
the pride of the forest lay prone in every
direction. They had not long to wait, for
soon the south wind breathed over the
dark evergreen sea above, and, floating
down through the opening,
transformed the frozen surface of the lake
into ripping, billowy blue.
With the disappearance of the ice the
rafting began in earnest. The more fear
less and venturesome raftsmen went
careering over the water with an easy
recklessness, while the timid and un-
initiated were wary and slower of move
ment.
Among the latter was liking Arthur"
And il any one of the rude, uncultured
experts could run him down." it proved
a source of great hilarity at his expense.
One dav in being thus hindered by a
thoughtless Irish raftsman, who. perhaps,
had no idea of mourning serious con.
sequences, he lost his presence OF mind
and footing as well, and slipped from the
raft into the chilling tide. in an instant.
.He can't swim stroke. and you're the
death of him." shouted one of the men in
their rear, who had seen the unfortunate
man 90 down. Alarmed at this the Irish
man sprang into the water to the rescue.
The logs had floated over him, and it vas
difficult to get the drowning man from
beneath them, but with timely assistance
it was done. The burly rescuer lifted his
inanimate burden up to two pair of strong,
willing arms. and then climbed out of the
water himself, shivering with cold and
excitement, and with a very white,
frightened face.
1t was but the work of few minutes 10
get the unconscious man on shore, and
into the warmth of the lodging house
Here every available means of resuscta
ton were thoroughly tried. but without
success. King Arthur" was dead,
After the most sanguine had given up
all hope of restoring their comrade to life
the men gazed down on the noble, refined
features. and realized in far different
sense the truth of their oft-repeated com
ment, "he is not one of u.s."
Heretofore this had been remarked in
derision only, and had wounded the fine,
sensitive nature of their victim many
times, but to day they whispered it with
pale lips to one another as they surround
ed the rigid form. and its import sounded
like haunting accusation.
Tom Terrell, the perpetrator of the ia
tai Joke, was the first to speak after the
body was prepared for burial. Steppine
forward, he caressed the cold dead face
| with his toil.wor palm. and said:
IAN shure Oh only meant to taze him 8
| little, an Owe kilt i'm intoirely O
shall be repintin' ov it till me heart i:
broken"
The men looked furtively at one another
as Terrell staggered to corner and sa
down. covering his face with his hands.
"His friends" suggested one, but not {
man of them knew aught of the dead
mans friends.
\ l. = l. l.